ferry -

Banjul – the capital that barely exists

Gosia — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 10:26:45 +0000

Banjul is the capital of The Gambia, though to be fair, it looks more like a sleepy provincial town than the beating heart of a country. Not only is it not the largest city in the nation, but with a population of just 40,000, it ranks eighth in terms of size. No surprise then that it’s one of the smallest capitals in the world. The city is relatively young – it was founded by the British in 1816 as a military outpost to guard the mouth of the Gambia River and enforce the ban on the slave trade. Back then it was called Bathurst, named after the colonial secretary, Lord Bathurst. It served as the administrative centre of the Gambia Protectorate and played a key logistical role for the Allies during the Second World War. After independence in 1965, it was renamed Banjul. What’s left from colonial times? Mostly increasingly crumbling buildings and a widespread knowledge of English (which, to be fair, is true across the whole country). But location-wise, Banjul has promise – it sits on St. Mary’s Island, right at the mouth of the river as it spills into the Atlantic. From here, you can hop on a ferry to the opposite bank – to the town of Barra. But more on that later. 😉 Banjul today – not a showstopper, but full of surprises Let’s not sugar-coat it – Banjul isn’t exactly the place from postcards. It’s more like endearing chaos: a bit of colonial architecture, a splash of African vibrancy, plenty of dust and a way of life that’s blissfully unaware of clocks or timetables. The city’s main artery – Independence Drive – ends at Arch 22, a triumphal arch that dwarfs everything around it. Built after the 1994 military coup. It was meant to symbolise a “new era”, but nowadays it mostly symbolises how far architecture can veer into delusion. You can climb to the top, though, and enjoy panoramic views over the city and the Gambia River. Despite (or because of) all this, Banjul has become popular with tourists – especially Brits. There are some decent beaches nearby, with Cape Point Beach being the most famous. The Barra crossing in slow motion The Barra–Banjul ferry crossing was certainly one of the most memorable parts of my trip in The Gambia. In theory, it’s just five kilometres. In practice? Feels like five light-years. And I’m not exaggerating – here you don’t just cross a river, you test the limits of patience and human imagination 😄 There’s no real alternative to the ferry – just have a look at the map. The Gambia River basically slices the country in half, and to get to Barra any other way, you’d pretty much have to drive across the whole country. Slightly overkill for a five-kilometre crossing. There’s no such thing as a timetable, and the queue to the ferry looks like it’s been there since the dawn of time. I couldn’t help but admire the women standing in the blazing sun, balancing enormous loads on their heads like it’s no big deal. Everyone waits tensely for the gates to open – and when they do, it’s a real people’s migration. The ferry takes on everything: people, cars, goats, sacks of rice, barrels of who-knows-what. The trip lasts about 30 minutes and trust me, nobody gets bored. Kids are running around, vendors are pushing peanuts, sugary drinks and knock-off plastic watches in your face. From the loudspeakers you’ll hear either local music or monotone announcements from state radio. People chat, laugh, nap. And you? You sit, watch and soak it all in – and it hits you: this is the quintessence of travelling in Africa. Drift, don’t rush, and absorb the glorious mess around you. Because this ferry isn’t just a means of transport – it’s Gambia in a nutshell. Everyone’s here: truck drivers, fishermen, school kids and wide-eyed tourists from the West. Nowhere else will you witness such a collision of lives, stories and surreal little moments in one place.

Artykuł Banjul – the capital that barely exists pochodzi z serwisu .

One day in Gozo

Gosia — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:13:38 +0000

I start my tour around Gozo at the Ta’ Ċenċ cliffs, located on the southeastern coast of the island. This is one of the must-see places in Malta. From a height of over 130 meters, you can admire an amazing panorama of the Mediterranean Sea. A little further, you can admire an equally spectacular landscape at the so-called Sunset Cliff. To get to know the island not only from the perspective of the cliffs, it is worth visiting the capital of Gozo – Victoria, also known as Rabat. Victoria boasts interesting monuments and architecture. The main tourist attraction is the Il-Kastell citadel. Walking along the defensive walls, you can admire picturesque views of the surrounding towns. Within the citadel, there’s also the historic Cathedral of the Assumption. The old town is a labyrinth of narrow streets with houses adorned with interesting details. At the nearby market, you can find traditional Maltese products, handicrafts, sweets, and fruits. Local restaurants serve excellent Maltese cuisine. An absolute must-see is Dwejra Bay, located in the western part of the island. Here you can see impressive cliffs and interesting rock formations. Until recently, you could also admire the Azure Window, known from the Game of Thrones series. Unfortunately, in 2017, it collapsed due to strong winds, depriving Gozo of one of its main attractions. Currently, you can still admire the so-called Fungus Rock, also known in Malta as “Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral” (General’s Rock). It has an interesting history. Fungus Rock owes its name to a unique plant collected here by the Knights of Malta. It’s a dark brown, club-shaped, parasitic plant (Cynomorium coccineus) growing up to about 18 cm in height. Although it originates from North Africa, Fungus Rock is the only place in Europe where it can be found. In the times of the Knights of Malta, it was believed that its extract had strong healing properties. It was used to dress wounds because it stopped bleeding and prevented infections. Moreover, it was also supposed to cure dysentery, ulcers, and even venereal diseases. The plant was very popular, and its market value was high. When the Knights of St. John discovered it growing on a rock in Gozo, they knew they found a real treasure. A rope was stretched between the land and the rock, and collectors were transported back and forth on a small, one-person cable car. Moreover, in 1637, they built the Dwejra (Qawra) fortress to protect this precious medicine. They even cut down the rock slope to prevent access to the top of the rock. Next to it, there’s another attraction – the Inland Sea – a lagoon connected to the open sea by a tunnel carved into the 100-meter Dwejra cliff. The tunnel is large enough for local fishermen to organize boat trips through it. Until recently, this reservoir was used by fishermen for fishing. Nowadays, due to the large number of fish, it is an attractive place for diving. An interesting sight is the salt pans located in the northern part of the island near Marsalforn. These are shallow rectangular basins carved at the edge of the sea, which are flooded with seawater. As it evaporates, salt is formed. The northern part of Gozo is an ideal place for this type of production, which was known here since Roman times. Limestone rocks are found here, which could be shaped in any way. This traditional method of obtaining salt is still used today. The salt pans are adjacent to the Qolla l-Bajda Battery, which was built by the Knights of Malta in 1715-1716. I will write more about this place soon, in a post dedicated to abandoned places in Malta. Marsalforn is also known for the peculiar statue of Christ the Redeemer (Tas-Salvatur), located in an open field. It was built in 1970 on top of a hill. At the foot of the hill, there’re farmland fields that effectively prevent a trip to the top. A break in sightseeing is best taken at Ramla Beach, which is one of the most beautiful on Gozo. There are ruins of an abandoned hotel here, which I will also write more about in another post. On the way back, it is worth visiting a town Xagħra where you can see the historic Ta’ Kola Windmill. The windmill was built in 1725 on the initiative of the Knights of Malta. At that time, many such objects were built to encourage the local population to produce flour. Inside the windmill, there’s a museum of rural life. From the port of Ċirkewwa, located at the northern end of Malta, ferries regularly run to the port of Mġarr on Gozo. The ferries are operated by Gozo Channel Line and depart approximately every 45 minutes. The entire crossing takes about 25 minutes and is also available for cars. Prices are affordable: the transfer of the driver and car costs €15.70, while passengers pay €4.65 (prices from 2024). More information can be found here. Gozo is a place that impresses both in terms of history and nature. Although it’s smaller than the main island of Malta, it surprises with its unique landscapes, monuments, and interesting architecture. The history of this place is told by nature itself. The salt pans are a reminder of ancient salt production, and Fungus Rock tells an interesting story of the use of natural medicine.

Artykuł One day in Gozo pochodzi z serwisu .

Tip for a trip – weekend on the Lake Como!

Gosia — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:03:04 +0000

What’s the best way to say good-bye to winter? Purchase a flight to Bergamo at a discounted price and in just 3 hours’ sip aromatic Italian cappuccino in a cosy cafe with a view of the famous lake Como. What can you visit there and how to organize this trip on budget? As a short introduction, there’s a lot to see, because Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, right after lake Garda and Maggiore. What’s more is one of the most deepest lakes in Europe, in some places its depth reaches over 400 m. One can say that size matters, but in my humble opinion the sights play crucial role here… 😉 This place is located very close to Swiss border in the beautiful scenery of the Alps. Taking a ferry is a must, unforgettable experience is guaranteed! It’s the best to start the trip from Lecco, which is about 50 km north of Milan or Bergamo. Lake Como is shaped like revesed letter Y. Lecco is the gateway to this lake from eastern side while from western side is Como town. Lecco is a rather compact town, but incredibly charming. The main point in the city centre is the promenade of Lungolago Isonzo with a view of the nearby mountains and the characteristic high belfry of St. Nicolas church, which is the symbol of the city. The must – see is also the main square – Piazza XX Septembre, surrounded by colourful houses and arches with a tower – Torre Viscontea in the background. Lake Como has been a popular holiday resort since the oldest times reaching back as far as Roman Empire times. In fact, it is possible to say that the wealthy Romans started the trend of building luxury villas along the coastline of lake Como. Indeed, Roman times are gone but the lake has become a popular destination for numerous stars such as Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace, Sylvester Stallone or Richard Branson. Towns located on the Lake Como are well-communicated. There are numerous ferries, boats and water taxis. It’s worth taking a cruise on the lake to see some of the luxury properties and the beautiful countryside. The most popular is by far Villa Serbelloni located in the small town of Bellagio. Who has watched Ocean’s Eleven film for sure reminds this name of a luxury hotel/casino located in Las Vegas. The inspiration for its creation was Bellagio town. Villa Serbelloni, as a matter of fact, the prestigious Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, is located close to the Bellagio tiny harbor, on the flowerful promenade. Villa from the inside is only available for hotel guests, but you can visit the hotel’s garden. The Bellagio is also called as the Pearl of the Lake Como and is located in its centre in close proximity to the most beautiful city in Lombardy – Varenna (here’s the post). In addition to Villa Serbelloni, it is worth taking a stroll and visiting historic old town with numerous colourful houses and upmarket boutiques. Getting to farry in the direction of Como, you can see the famous Villa Del Balbinello, well known form Casino Royale film, surrounded by a lush garden form the one side and from the other by the waters of the Lake Como. Practical Info: From Caravaggio Orio al Serio airport take a bus to Bergamo train station. Tickets can be bought at the tourist infomation desk at the airport or in the vending machine at the bus stop. Timetable, price and route can be found here. The route from the airport to the train station takes about 15-20 minutes, and the stop is located right in front of the station. [huge_it_maps id=”4″] Train tickets to Lecco can be bought at checkout or in a vending machine at the station. Tickets can also be purchased via the internet on this site. Trains run practically every hour, and travel to Lecco takes about 40 minutes. The ticket costs € 3,60 (data from 2018). From Lecco to Varrena – Esino run trains, the cost of the ticket is about € 2,90 (data from 2018 ), and a journey takes form 20 to 40 minutes depending from the train type. The timetable can be checked on the same page as the connection between Bergamo and Lecco. Below is the map with marked train station in Varenna and harbors in Varenna and Bellagio. [huge_it_maps id=”5″] Form Varenna take the ferry to Bellagio. Ticket costs 4,60 € (data from 2018), timetable you’ll find here. To get from Bellagio to Como, it’s best to get on the ferry. The schedule is available on the above mentioned site of Navigazione Laghi and the ticket costs 10,40 € (data from 2018). From Como S. Giovanni station catch a train to Bergamo. Ticket costs 6,70€, and the timetable is available on before mentioned Tren Italia site. [huge_it_maps id=”6″] What’s the total cost? – return flight tickets from Warsaw – 20 € – bus from Caravaggio Orio al Serio to Bergamo Bergamo train station – 2,30 € x 2 – train from Bergamo to Lecco – 3,60 € – train from Lecco to Varenna Essino – 2,90 € – ferry from Varenna to Bellagio – 4,6 € – ferry from Bellagio to Como – 10,40 € – train from Como do Bergamo – 6,70 € Total cost: 53 € As for one day it’s quite a lot to do, I did this trip in 2 days with a one – night stay in Lecco. The accomodation cost 25€, but there’s also possibilty to vist for example only Lecco, Varrenna and Bellagio, which in my opinion are the most beautuful.

Artykuł Tip for a trip – weekend on the Lake Como! pochodzi z serwisu .

Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg without visa – budget travel

Gosia — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:45:55 +0000

We weren’t planning the trip to Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg. Actually everything started from LOT special offer for the flights: Warsaw – Tallinn and Helsinki – Warsaw. From Tallinn to Helsinki we traveled by Tallink ferry, but it’s possible to go with other companies such as Viking Line or Eckero Line. You need to check in at least 30 minutes before the departure of the ferry. Check-in desk is located at the Terminal D. Tallink shuttles 6 times a day and the voyage takes around 2 hours and definitely it isn’t boring (you can read about it here). The ferry arrives at the West Harbor. To the city center you can go by tram no. 9 (in the direction of Pasila) and get off at Kaisaniemi stop. Ticket costs 2,5 euro if you buy it from the ticket machine or 3 euro from the driver. Every needed information you can find here. Definitely Helsinki is not a cheap city, so in order to minimize the costs we arrived there early in the morning and departed to Petersburg in the evening. We had all day to visit the capital of Finland and we didn’t have to book expensive hotel/hostel. We went from Helsinki to Petersburg by Princess Maria ferry operated by St. Peter Line. We had chosen the cheapest accommodation option, in a cabin below the deck and without any meals. The cabin was just right for two people and it was equipped with a bathroom. There was no window, but it was a good news for us, as we finally could have a good night’s sleep during the white nights. During an overnight voyage you can’t be bored there for sure. On Princess Maria you can spend your time in numerous bars, restaurants, duty – free shops, casino or even a swimming pool (for everything you must pay additionally). According to the Russian law, passengers who arrive to Russian harbors and stay there up to 72 hours don’t need to have a visa on condition that they are part of an organized trip. In view of the fact that Russian visa is expensive and obtaining it is connected with many formalities, we decided to take advantage of visa – free travel. Which conditions should be met to stay in Russian territory without visa? Firstly you have to book an accommodation and organize a tourist guide. Tourist guides are expensive but it’s possible to take advantage of a cheaper option. St. Peter Line organizes a bus transport which is regarded as an organized trip. It costs 25 euro and it shuttles from ferry terminal to the city center. You have to buy it during booking a ferry to Petersburg if you don’t have a tourist guide. Additionally passengers have to stay on the area marked by the route of the bus. As you can see on the map, it isn’t big thus we decided to take a risk and get lost 😉 During our trip, we visited Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof without any problems (details soon on the blog). Ferry to Petersburg departs from West Terminal (at the same terminal as ferry from Tallinn arrives). After arriving to the terminal you need to go to check – in desk to get boarding card and Arrival and Departure Card. Documents needed at the border: passport, hotel/hostel booking confirmation, Arrival/Departure Card and Migration Card. You must remember that Departure Card is also the ticket for the bus. You are entitled to go by it unlimited times on the way: Sea Station Terminal, V.O. – Morskoy Slavy square – Sokos Vasilievsky – Sokos Palace Bridge – Saint Isaac’s Square, but it’s available within days of ships’ stay only. At the border, immigration officer checks passport, hotel/hostel booking confirmation and keeps Arrival Card and part A of the Migration Card. The rest documents you need to submit during departure. Bus stop is located in front of the entrance to the terminal, buses are marked with St. Peter Line logo. The departure is not so complicated. Additional check – in isn’t needed. Immigration officer checks passport and keeps Departure Card and part B of the Migration Card. More details you can find here. You must be wondering if trip to Petersburg is safe, especially in the current political situation. We had been really anxious about going there because our trip started just after the Ukraine crisis. We didn’t have any problems at the border. Petersburg turned out to be one of our biggest surprises. This city is famous for its European, cosmopolitan character. We haven’t met such welcoming and outgoing people anywhere else (maybe apart from Hawaii).Soldiers posed for the camera and people always helped us out, even when they couldn’t speak English. (more about trip to Petersburg you will find on our blog soon). How much does 9-day trip cost? Flight Warsaw – Tallinn, Helsinki – Warsaw – 38 euro Tallinn 3 nights – 38 euro Helsinki 1 night – 27 euro Petersburg 2 nights – 34 euro St. Peter Line return ticket (with 2 overnight stays included) – 145 euro Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki by Tallink – 22 euro Total cost per person: 304 euro + personal expenses ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

Artykuł Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg without visa – budget travel pochodzi z serwisu .

Hobbits’ stronghold in Helsinki neighborhood

Gosia — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 01:37:10 +0000

Suomenlinna stronghold, located in 6 islands, is a very important point in Helsinki touristic map. It was built in the half XVIII century by the Swedish in order to defense against Russians. In that times it was the biggest building in the kingdom and the second – largest city in Finland. After a long siege it was finally conquered by Russians in 1808. In view of its strategic location, Russians decided to move the capital of Finland from Turku to Helsinki in 1812. Fortress remained under Russians rule till 1917, when Finland regained independence. These days it doesn’t have military significance but it’s a very interesting historic monument. The most important attractions are located on two main islands: Iso Mustasaari and Susisaari in the lush verdant surrounding contrasting with intensive yellow flowers. The most interesting points are: stronghold museum, ramparts, cannons or underground bunkers resembling typical Hobbits’ houses On the stronghold area, in architecturally interesting houses live around 900 people. After intensive sightseeing, we can rest in atmospheric restaurants and cafes. What is the most important, Suomenlinna is not only a relic of the past but its’ also Finns’ favorite place of spending free time. We can get there by ferry which shuttles regularly from Kauppatori market (return ticket costs 4 euro). The tally on the ferry was a nice surprise for us. During journey, accompanied by seagulls, you can admire beautiful Helsinki panorama with the Lutheran Cathedral – Tuomiokirkko in the background. Ferry passes a lot of tiny, picturesque islets which are typical for the capital of Finland. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

Artykuł Hobbits’ stronghold in Helsinki neighborhood pochodzi z serwisu .